Flexible coupling



Sept 8, 1925.

I W. C. SUPPLER FLEXIBLE COUPLING File d Aug. 18, 1924 54mm ton op/er 9& Gum;

Patented Sept. 8, 1925.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM G; SUPPLER, OF BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

FLEXIBLE COUPLING.

Application filed August 18, 1924. Serial No. 732,648.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM G. SUPPLER, a. citizen of the United States, and resident of Birmingham, Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flexible Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates .to improvements in couplings and particularly to that type of coupling in which there can be a slight misalignment between the coupled shafts. The coupling is provided with resilient members adapted to cushion shocksin starting and stopping.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is aside view partly in section;

Fig. 2 is an end. view with parts broken away;

F 1g. 3 is a perspective view of the head end of one of the coupled shafts;

Fig. 4 is aperspective view of one of the cushions used in the coupling; i Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view illustrating a modification i Fig. 6 is a detail of a Referring particularly to the drawings 10 and 12 are shafts which are substantially in axial alignment. They are provided with heads 14 and 16 which are, keyed or otherwise fixed thereto. Each headis provided with a number of lugs 18 which in end view are undercut or dove-tailed. Surrounding thelugged portions is a sleeve 20 whose length is greater than the combined width of the lugs carried by the two heads. This sleeve is provided with inwardly extending lugs 22,'whi'ch, as shown in Fig. 2, lie midway between the lugs 18 carried on the heads 14 and 16. Interposed between each lug 18 and each lug 22, is located a cushion 24 formed of suitable resilient material, such as rubber, hydraulic packin or the like. I

As s own .in Fig. 4, these cushions are prisnfatic in form and the co-acting walls of the lugs 18 and 22 are so arranged that they seat squarely against the side faces of such prismatic cushions. By proportioning the parts in this way, I can use stock material for forming these cushions which are square in section, thus being unnecessa to provide special molds for. the formation of the cushions, resulting in economy of manufacture.

part shown in Fig. 5.

of the heads Hand 16 Rings 26 are provided for retaining the cushions in place, these rings seating against shoulders 28 formed in the inner bore of the sleeve 20. Spring rings 30 are seated in suitable grooves for locking the retaining rings in place. As shown in Fig. 2 each spring ring has one end 32 which enters a suitable hole in the sleeve, and its'other end 34 is bent inwardly to form a hook or loop for the insertion of a may be removed.

Or as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 I may provide a spring ring 34 which serves as a keeper or retaining ring, thus doing away with the necessity of providing an extra ring such as shown at 26, Fig. 1.

In operation, motion is transmitted, for example, from the head 14 through the-cushions 24 to the other head 16 carried-by the shaft 12. There is a. slight clearance between the two heads and consequently a large degree of flexibility is obtained. Due to the resiliency of the cushions'24, shocks are absorbed and a substantially uniform torque is transmitted.

The coupling is of simple design not retool whereby the ring qulring the use of bolts or nuts in assemblin and is devoid of projecting parts which won d be apt to catch in the clothing of workmen. The parts can be quickly and easily assembled, and can be manufactured at slight cost, yet performing their functions equally as well as more complex devices heretofore purposed.

Though I have described with great particularity the specific embodiments of the invention hereinshown, it 'is not' to be construed that I am limited hereto as changes in arrangement and substitution of equiv; alents may be madeby those skilled in the art without departure from the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is: v

1. A shaft coupling comprising heads secured to the endsof adjacent shafts, a sleeve surrounding said heads, inwardly projecting lugs on the latter, outwardly exten ing lugs on said heads located between the lugs on the sleeve prismatic cushions engaging the sleeve lugs, and-"the head lugs and retaining meansfor sai cushions seated in said sleeve.

2. A shaft coupling comprising complimentar heads of similar form secured to the en s of adjacent shafts, a sleeve .surrounding said heads, lugs on said heads and said sleeve, with cushioning members between them, keeper rings holding the latter. said sleeve bein greater than the combined against endwise movement and means forthickness of bot heads and means for hold- ,30

looking the keeper rings within said sleeve. in the parts assembled'without the use of. 3. A shaft 'couplin comprising lugs on .fbo ts or screws comprisin keeper rings enthe ends of adjacent s afts, a sleeve having gaging the sleeve lugs an spring rings enlugs located between the shaft lugs, resilient gaging the sleeve to lock said keeper rings prismatic members interposed between the against outward movement. 35

shaft and 'sleevelugs, keeper rings and re- 6. A shaft coupling comprising a sleeve silient. means for locking the latter to said for transmitting power from one shaft to fsleeve. another, lugs carried by each shaft and by 4. Ashaft coupling comprising two heads said sleeve, blocks of resilient material be: whose and faces are of substantially or a'ptween the shaft and sleeve lugs, and a s ring 40 proximately identical contour being apring for holding the parts assemble roximately circular with radially extending 7. A shaft coupling comprising a sleeve ugs, a sleeve encircling said heads and havfor transmitting power from one shaft to ing radially extendinglugs, prismatic blocks another, heads carried by each shaft and blocks.

of resilient material between the respective having outwardly-extending lugs, inwardly 45 sleeveand head lugs and resilient members extending lugs on said sleeve between said engaging said sleeve for retaining. .said first named lugs, blocks of resilient material l between the respective sets of lugs and 5. A shaft coupling'comprising two heads spring members engaging said sleeve 'for whose end faces are of substantially or aprestrictin the longitudinal movement of 50 proximately identical contour being a said hea s away from each other within proximately circular with radially extensdetermined limits.

ing lugs, a sleeve encircling said heads and In witness whereof, I have hereunto having radially extending lugs, prismatic signed my name.

blocks of resilient material between the respective sleeve and head lugs the length of I WILLIAM SUPPLER 

